Neighbourhood policing and joined-up government needed to defeat gun crime

12.00.00am GMT Thu 22nd May 2008

Commenting on the latest gun crime figures released by the Government today which show falls in some areas but rises in others, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"The Home Secretary has certainly made the most out of these figures.

"It's a bit over the top to be announcing successes when two out of the four target areas actually saw significant increases in gun crime over the same period last year.

"Some aspects of these results are encouraging and are a tribute to neighbourhood policing and intelligence. But the police need more backup from customs who still put nine times as much effort into stopping the smuggling of cigarettes as guns.

"Only genuinely joined-up government will defeat gangs and organised crime."